David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy

Overview

The David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy is one of the nation’s most innovative and successful law school public interest programs. Since its inception, the Program has set a high standard for training the next generation of public interest advocates and leaders.

At UCLA Law, students will find a dynamic environment that brings together faculty, administrators, students and alumni to explore critical issues on a local and global scale. The Program curriculum offers an innovative and rigorous approach to legal education that enables students to refine their own career goals while educating and training them to engage in sophisticated representation of traditionally underserved individuals, communities and interests. Program faculty has an unparalleled depth and breadth of knowledge and experience representing a wide cross-section of topics in social justice. They work with Program administrators to counsel, guide and support students and alumni as they pursue impactful public interest careers.

Through its speaker series and other colloquia and symposia, interdisciplinary collaborations and active engagement in the community, the Program helps advance sustainable solutions to some of our society’s most pressing challenges.

Public Interest Law and Policy Specialization

The Program Specialization strives to provide an innovative
and intellectually
ambitious
curriculum that trains students to engage in sophisticated
representation of traditionally underrepresented individuals,
communities and interests while utilizing a range of problem-solving
tools. Thus, Program students are required to satisfy the general
requirements for a J.D. degree while also satisfying the Program’s
specific curricular requirements.

The Program curriculum is intended both to address fundamental
questions about public interest lawyering that affect all areas of
practice and to allow students to pursue a curricular path tailored to
their individual interests and career goals. The Program curricular requirements include a first-year seminar, a special section of the
first-year Lawyering Skills course, a second-year “problem
solving” seminar, an additional four advanced courses from a designated
menu of courses, and a writing requirement.

Program students also have ample opportunity to select from the general School of Law curriculum courses that relate to their public interest orientation and goals, as well as to enroll in other academic specializationsand pursue joint degrees.

Sustaining Public Interest Careers

In light of the Program’s broad definition of “public interest,” it
always has been understood that students admitted to the Program would
evidence significant diversity in their respective career goals, as well
as in their interests. Thus, as envisioned by the faculty who founded
the Program, some students would go on to careers in more traditional
kinds of public interest work – pursuing civil rights litigation,
providing legal services for the poor, or engaging in transactional work
with nonprofit organizations to develop housing or employment
resources. Others would possibly work exclusively in the realm of
politics and policy-making, both inside and outside government. Still
others would start up community-based law practices serving the needs of
specific communities. While others would focus more on educating and
organizing vulnerable communities rather than engaging in more
traditional legal work. And still others would pursue a career in
academia or be appointed to the judiciary.

And so, indeed, the Program alumni – now numbering over 450 and constituting sixteen Program classes – are making their mark in
diverse settings – in the nonprofit, government and private sectors, the
judiciary and academia – across the country and abroad. Engaged in
addressing a broad array of social justice issues both domestically and
abroad, our alumni are innovative thinkers, fierce advocates, recipients
of prestigious national fellowships, exceptional leaders and founders
of pioneering organizations, working to reduce poverty and injustice and
to promote democratic values. And, they remain dedicated to and
engaged with the Program.

More Information

Contact Information

Brenda KimManager of Operations and Events,
Public Interest Programs
1411 Law Building
(310) 794-4061kimb@law.ucla.edu